Beverage Capsule Porous Flow Control for Faster Clean Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage capsules face issues with slow and inconsistent extraction processes, particularly for larger doses of coffee, and the escape of coffee particles during and after extraction due to the use of simple perforable foil members with small relief elements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a flow control porous member between the ingredients and the foil member in the capsule, which is designed to deform less than the foil under pressure, creating a consistent and faster flow path while retaining coffee particles, and using a foil member that tears reliably at a predetermined pressure threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple perforable foil member with small relief elements is used, then the capsule structure is simple, but the extraction process becomes slow and inconsistent and coffee particles escape
Solution Approach 1:
A flow control porous member is introduced as an intermediary element between the coffee bed and the foil member. This porous member acts as a mediator that regulates fluid flow through its controlled porosity, enabling faster and more consistent extraction while preventing particle escape through the small relief element openings
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control porous member utilizes porous material properties to achieve optimal fluid flow characteristics. The porous structure allows controlled permeability that accelerates extraction by facilitating liquid passage while simultaneously acting as a barrier to retain coffee particles, resolving the contradiction between extraction speed and particle containment
2Device complexity
If a simple perforable foil member with small relief elements is used, then the capsule structure is simple, but coffee particles escape during and after extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control porous member serves as an intermediary barrier between the coffee bed and the foil member with relief elements. It provides a secondary filtration mechanism that reliably retains particles while allowing efficient fluid flow, complementing the foil member's structure without requiring complex modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The porous member's controlled porosity creates a size-selective barrier that retains coffee particles while permitting liquid flow. This porous filtration mechanism enhances particle retention reliability without compromising the simplicity of the overall capsule structure or requiring complex sealing arrangements
3Ease of operation
If the foil member deforms significantly under pressure, then it creates openings for liquid flow, but the flow path becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control porous member acts as a flow-regulating intermediary that receives liquid from the deformation-induced openings in the foil member. It redistributes and stabilizes the flow paths, converting the inconsistent deformation-based flow into a more uniform and predictable flow pattern through its porous structure
Solution Approach 2:
The porous member's physical parameters (porosity, pore size distribution, thickness) are optimized to compensate for the variable opening sizes created by foil deformation. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves consistent flow characteristics despite variations in foil member deformation under different pressure conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution results in a significantly faster and more consistent extraction process, reducing flow time by up to 25% with lower standard deviation and effectively retaining coffee solids within the capsule, maintaining the quality of the coffee extract.
Implementation Method 1
The flow control porous member may be positioned between the multitude of openings and the relief members so as to filter the beverage passing between the multitude of openings and the relief members
Implementation Method 2
the injection pressure thrusts the foil member against the relief plate, the foil member being made from a material which is then perforated to form a multitude of openings when the pressure of the injected liquid and liquid/gas mixture reaches a value of at least 4 bar
Implementation Method 3
the tear face increasingly follows the shape of the radial opening relief members. When the constituent material of the tear face reaches its breaking stress, the tear face tears along the relief members
Implementation Method 4
The flow control porous member is designed to deform less than the foil under pressure, creating a consistent and faster flow path
Data Source
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AI summary
A sealed capsule contains a beverage ingredient in powder form, in particular, ground coffee. The capsule comprises a base body (4) and a foil member (5) tightly attached to the base body (4), the foil member (5) being made from a material allowing the production of a multitude of perforations in the foil member (5) when the foil member (5) is thrust, via the pressure caused by injecting a liquid or a liquid/gas mix into the capsule, against a relief plate of a beverage production machine, wherein the capsule is provided with a flow control porous member (80), the flow control porous member (80) being positioned between at least a portion of ingredients (3) and the foil member (5) . The flow control porous member provides a faster flow of the liquid extract through the capsule and significantly reduces the resurgence of non-soluble solids.